Häagen-Dazs melting away

After 12 years, Filipinos will no longer be able to enjoy Häagen-Dazs ice cream. The company has finally decided to pullout its business from the country allegedly due to “customs” problems. However, in a Twitter account and official web page, Customs commissioner Ruffy Biazon said the luxury ice cream brand’s decision has nothing to do with corruption in the agency, citing a letter from the brand manager that said Häagen-Dazs’ performance over the years has been “challenging.” 

Insider sources, however, told Spy Bits that one of the main reasons for the pullout has to do with “problems” frequently encountered with the Customs bureau, resulting in costly delays. And while Biazon had made it appear that the matter has been settled, informants from the intelligence and investigation services disclosed the allegations are warranted serious enough to make them quietly look into the ice cream maker’s importation records to get the names of personnel who have been handling the shipments.

Actually, we have also received complaints from several businessmen dealing with perishable items, saying every hour counts and that more delays mean more lost business. It’s a no brainer: Processing of papers for perishable items should be faster to avoid “holdups” and delays.

Several companies – a number of them big players – have been forced to abandon shipment languishing in warehouses due to the slowdown in the processing of documents. Worse, importers of tax-exempt items – whose release now reportedly takes over 30 days instead of two days – are reportedly forced to pay taxes and importation duties to avoid all that hassle and delay. 

While commissioner Biazon may himself be a passionate and strict adherent to this administration’s “daang matuwid” edict, there’s a big likelihood that those under him continue with the “daang baluktot.” By the way, you can now buy Häagen-Dazs ice cream at buy one, take one while supply lasts.

CAAP “oxymorons”

One of our readers reacted to our column – “Flight safety: A major concern” – wherein we characterized the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines’ (CAAP’s) dismissal of the 23 critical elements listed by the US Federal Aviation Administration as minor concerns as an “oxymoron.”

The reader (whose identity is being withheld) enumerated instances that showcase the “oxymoron(ic)” display by CAAP (a carry over of the past) like the “knee-jerk reaction” to ground all Piper Seneca planes following the fatal crash of Secretary Jesse Robredo off Masbate. “The Robredo plane crashed because the pilot turned on the dead engine and the airplane went into a spin with no altitude to recover. This is the main reason for the crash,” the reader claimed, saying that a surprise visit (preferably incognito) inside CAAP would allegedly reveal personnel either sleeping or eating on post during office hours and hanging their feet on the table with such glaring display of unprofessional demeanor – surprising considering that many of them are from the Philippine Air Force.

He also decried alleged “cover-ups,” disclosing that a couple of aircraft (owned by a certain colonel) parts like a Bolkow helicopter fuselage with complete instrument panel and an SF260 fuselage – are conveniently hidden from view at the back of this Mindanao-based aviation company’s hangar, underscoring the alleged practice among Air Force personnel to cannibalize parts and instruments and declare these as “scrap” items to outside partners – who then resell the same items to the Air Force as brand new.

Admittedly, there are so many issues and problems that affect the aviation industry in this country, and if these allegations of corruption, padrino system and other ills are not addressed, we will keep on failing in the bid to have the FAA Category 2 rating lifted – obviously to the detriment of related aviation businesses.

Spy tidbits

–– Now here’s one news item that will catch the interest of Davao City vice mayor Rodrigo Duterte: A man from Buffalo, New York tried to pay with a bogus $50 bill while buying French fries at an amusement park. An eagle-eyed employee, however, spotted the fake bill and called authorities who quickly apprehended the 35-year-old man who then stuffed the remaining $50 bills in his mouth in an attempt to get rid of the evidence – to no avail.

It can be recalled that vice mayor Duterte came under fire for allegedly making swindling suspect Manolito Gavas eat fake land titles used in a scam. Duterte was supposed to have been probed for the chewing incident but apparently, nothing has come out of it since the conman did not file any complaint. On the other hand, many are wondering whether criminal charges have been filed against Gavas. Most likely they were dropped because the land scam artist – who even profusely apologized to Duterte – successfully “ate up” the evidence.

–– Nigerian criminals are notorious for Internet scams, credit card frauds and all kinds of racketeering activities. But apparently, Nigerian organized crime gangs have expanded their interests to include drug trafficking. Just very recently, Nigerian authorities arrested a man who was bringing in roasted chicken stuffed with unusual ingredients: cocaine worth $150,000. Over the years, Nigeria has become a transit point for drugs, with heroin shipped from Asia, Europe and the US as well as cocaine from South Africa and South America.

According to sources, the significant presence of Nigerians in several Asian countries such as India, Pakistan, Thailand and even China provide a ready network of heroin and cocaine smugglers. Last year, the DOJ, NBI and the Bureau of Immigration launched a massive manhunt for several Nigerians suspected of using Filipina overseas workers as drug mules after news came out about the impending execution of OFWS caught in China for drug trafficking.

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